Well tester



Jan. 4, 1944. o, w. WILLIAMS ETAL 2,338,369

WELL TESTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. ll, 1937 r.the wellv andshowingy a Patented Jan. 4, 1944 WELL TESTER Olln Williams andiLuther E.Brown, Greggton, Tex.

Application'Novcmber 11, 1937, Serial No.1174,071 13 Claims. y(ci.16s-1o) This invention relates to a well tester. An object of theinvention is tovprovide a te'sting tool adapted to be lowered into awell and whereby a sample of` the fluid in the "formation to be testedmay be entrapped and removed to the` ground surface for inspection.

It is another object of the invention to provide a-testing tool of thecharacter described designed to be attached to the lower end of theldrill stem or" other tubular string and lowered `into the Well emptyand embodying novel meansfor forming a seal above the formation to betestedV and a novel .type of'valve normally closing they lower 'end'ofthe drill stem, or other operating stringv `and adapted tov be opened bya relative longitudinalv movementof the valve means to permit theentrance of a sample from theformation befneatnthe seal with means forautomatically entrapping the sample upon upward movement of the tool.V v1 It is another object of the invention'to provide a testing ytool ofthe character described whereby the heavy drilling uid may be allowed toenter the drill stem, or other operating strin-g as the tool `iswithdrawn, in the presence of gas pressure in the" well, to prevent ablowout.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well tester ofthecharacter described wherein f provision lismade for'maintaining theoperating` lstring lempty lwhile going into the well but whichwill'allow` circulation of vdrilling uid through ysaidstring,whiflevgoing in or coming out, if gas Apressure conditions make suchcirculation advisable.

` A further object of the invention is to provide i a tester of thecharacter described embodying an expansible lpackerand havingVv meansfor preventingvthe premature expansion of the packer.

versa. f

Wit-hthe-above` and other obJects in view `the inventionfhas'particularrelation to certain novel features vof construction. operation andarranger'ment of parts; an example of which is given in thisspe'cicationand illustrated in the accom- Figure 1 shows a lvertical. sectional viewof the :upper yend of oney form of the testing tool in jclOsedjpositicinpreparatory to be lowered into downwardly opening valve therein.

IFigure 2 shows a velticaL sectional view of the lower end ofjthe deviceshown in Figure 1.

Figure 3` shows a cross-sectional view taken on the line `3-'-3 ofFigure 2.

Figure 4 shows a sidev view of a complete tool illustrating' anotherlembodiment shown in open position for the Vadmission of a sample.

Figure 5 shows an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view 'ofthe tool showing the valve mechanism open as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 shows an enlarged, fragmentary, verticaLVsectional view of' thelower end of either form of the tool in position for taking a sample,

and

Figure 7 shows afragmentary, vertical, sectional view showing the valvemechanism in p0' sition to admit drilling fluid from the bore into thedrill stem or operating string.`

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals ofreference designate the same' parts in each of the figures,l the numeralIy designates the body of the' tool. screwed into the upper end of whichvthere is the gland 2 whose upper end is upwardly tapered. The lowerendof the body is reduced in inside diameter' forming a bearing 3through which the releasing tube 4 is slidably tted. The lower end ofthe releasing tube extends beneath the lower end of the body and boththe body and releasing tube have suitable perforations as 5, 8 providingfor the inlet of a sample from the formation being tested. The upper endof the body I is in# wardly thickened forming a bearing l through whichthe upper end of the releasing tube is fitted Above the bearing Ithevbody has `the, inside annular recess 8 to receive the dogs 9 whichare seated against the coil springs IU. These coil springs normallyholdthe dogs inwardly as indicated in Figure 2 andthe inner sides ofthese dogs have upwardly pitched ratchet teeth I-I. The lower end of thedogs are ared downwardly and outwardly forming downwardly flared facesI2 against which the upper end of the releasing tube bears. Thereleasing'tube is fitted closely through the bearings 3 and 1 so .thatit will be held in placey by friction, while the tool is beingr loweredinto or withdrawn from the well. There is an expansible packer I3 Whosevlower end is suitably secured to the upper end of the gland 2 in anypreferred manner. As shown in Figure 5 it is so secured by wrapping thesame with securing wire I4,

The upperend of the packer I3 is securely at tached, in anypreferredmanner to a coupling I5. A cylindrical housing I1 is screwed into thecoupling I5 and contains a cylindrical chamber Is. The upper end of thehousing has an internally threaded box I8 intowhich the lower end of thedrill pipe, or other tubular operating string, 20 is threaded. Saidstring 20 extends to the ground surface. Beneath the box I9 the housingis provided with the inwardly extended bearing flange 2| through whichthe upper'end of a tubular mandrel 22 is fitted. The mandrel 22 isclosely surrounded by a packing 23 'countere sunk into -the nange 2|.The lower end of the mandrel 22 is screwed into the housing I1 at thelower end of the cylindrical chamber I8 as clearly shown in Figures 1and 5,`said mandrel thus extending axially through the cylindricalchamber I8. In the embodiment shownin all of the gures, the mandrel hasa transverse web 24 intermediate its ends and above and beneath said webthe mandrel has the upper and lower side ports 25, 28 and in theembodiment shown in Figure 1 the web 24 has the downwardly opening valve24a therein. l

Slidably mounted on the mandrel 22 is the cylindrical shaped pistonvalvev 21 having the piston rings 28, 23 therearound forming seals withthe walls of the chamber I8. The piston valve 21 has an inside annulargroove, or recess 30 therearound of a suicient length to communicatewith both of the ports 25, 2li when the valve mechanism is opened toadmit a sample as shown in Figure l5. The piston valve also has aninside annular packing 3| forming a seal with the mandrel 22 and beneaththe piston valve there is a packing 33 which is fitted closely aroundsaid mandrel and which fits closely within the chamber I8.

' There ls a piston, designated generally by the numeral 34 on the valve21 and which is iitted closely around the mandrel 22 and closely withinthe chamber I8 andwhich'may be formed o1' alternately `arranged -packingrings and spacing rings as shown in Figures 1 5 and '1. InterposedIbetween' this piston 34 and the inwardly extended flange 2| andsurrounding said mandrel there is a strong coil spring 35, shown moreclearly in Figures 1 and 5.k The housing I1 has its vlower end reducedand formed into a tubular extension 35 which works axially through thegland 2 and which is surrounded by the packing 31 countersunk'into saidgland.

Attached to' the lower end of the extension 38 there is an elongatedtubular ratchet member `38 provided with the external ratchet teeth 39which engage with the' ratchet teeth of the'dogs 3, when the valvemechanism of the testing tool is in closed position as shown in Figures1 and 2, and prevent the premature setting of the packer. 'Ihe packer I3encloses `a chamber 40 and the ducts 4I lead from said chamber upwardlythrough the lower end of the housing and enter the lower end of' thecylindrical chamber I8. Thechamber 40 is normally nlled with a suitableliquid as shown in Figure 1.

In order to make a test the apparatus is assembled as shown in Figure 2with the piston valve 21 The piston valve 21 alsohas an outlet well thedrilling uld beneath may pass upwardly through the channel 44 of thehousing extension and out through said ports 25, 42 and 43.

When the tool lands on bottom the downward 5 movement of the releasingtube 4 will stop but the housing I1 and the body I will move ondownwardly, the upper end of the releasing tube contacting with thediverging faces I2 and expanding the dogs 8 to release them from theratchet l teeth 38, placing the springs I0 under compression. The weightwill thereupon be assumed, in part, by the packer I3 and an endwisecompressive force will be exerted against said packer expanding it outagainst the wall of the bore, as l shown in Figures 4 and 5,' andcompressing it inwardly so as to reduce the capacity of the chamber 40.The ducts 4I and that portion of the chamber I8 beneath the packing 33will also be filled with fluid, as shown in Figure 1. When the pressureon the fluid in the chamber 40 is greater than the pressure of thedrilling iluid outside of the tool (and which enters the groove throughthe ports 43, 42, see. Figure 1) the piston valve 21 and piston 34 willbe forced upwardly on the 25 mandrel 22 and place the spring 35 under.compression. This spring has sufficient resistance to react against saidpressurey iiuid in the chamber to cause the packer to expand and rmlyseat against the walls of the bore to form a seal. 30 Any fluid in thecylindrical chamber I8 above the piston 34 will be expelled outwardlythrough the side port 45 at the upper end of said chamber I8. Thisupward movement-of the piston valve 21 will close the ports 42 and 43and will uncover 35 the ports 25 so that both the ports 25 and 28communicate with the groove 30. Thedrilling fluid above is now sealedoifv from the strata to be tested and any fluid in said strata. may flowinwardly through the ports 5 and 5 and up through the channel 44 and maypass through the ports 25, 25 around the partition 24, or valve 24a, andon up into the empty drill stern 20. .The operator of the tool will beable to hear the fluid thus flowing up into the drill stem andwillpromptly stop the `downward movement of the stem and will hold thestemstationary for the required length of time to permit the sample to enterthe drill stem. Whenthe samplehas been taken the drill stem may then beelevated thus releasing the compressive -force on the packer I3 and thespring 35 ywill thereupon force the piston valve 21 back downwardly intothe position shown in Figure 1 closing the ports 25 to entrap the sampleand the tool may then be withdrawn from the bore for an inspection ofthe sample.

At times the gas pressure in the well is liable to cause a blowout ifthe string is withdrawn from the well empty. As vthe string is withdrawnthe top sections will be broken out one at a time so that the weight ofthat portionofk the string left in the hole is not sufficient toovercome said pressure and the string is liablekto rbeexpelled -from thewell by said pressure. Therefore if there is any considerable gaspressure in the well after the test is taken and before the string iswithdrawn the weight of the string should be released to allow it totravel further downwardly and the pressure of the liquid beneath thevalve piston is raised sufficiently to move the piston valve 21 furtherupwardly, further compressing the spring 35 and until the ports 28 arecornpletely covered and' the port 42 islbrought into registration withthe radial bore'46 of thehousing I1 as shown in Figure `7 and with'theports 25 still in registration with, the groove 30." The fiuid as aguard against a blowoutv as the drill stem is withdrawn. This `will notin any way contaminate the sample in the drill stem since the sample, ifoil, can be measured as it comes through the release valve, in thevderrick, control-- ling the upper end of the drill stem or the fluidmay be allowed to run into the surface pit and there gauged.

While the tool is being lowered into the well, if conditions shouldrequire it; drilling fluid may be forced downwardly through theoperating string past the valve 24a and on down and out through theopenings 6 and 5 and back up on the outside of the operating string sothat circulation of the drilling fluid may be maintained, if desired,while lowering the tool. It is also obvious that in a similar mannercirculation may be maintained, if desired, while withdrawing the toolfrom the well.

The drawings and description disclose what is now considered to be apreferred form of the invention by way of illustration only, while thebroad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What we claim is:

l. A well tester comprising a tubular string adapted to be lowered intoa well to be tested containing drilling fiuid, valve means movable toone position to close the lower end of the string, means for forming aseal between the string and the walls of the well bore to exclude thedrilling fluid from the formation to be tested, means for actuating thevalve means into open position to permit the entrance of a sample fromsaid formation, beneath the sealing means, into the string, means formoving the valve means to another position to open the lower end of thestring to the well bore, above said sealing means, to

permit the entrance of drilling fluid intok the string and means formoving the valve means to original position to again close the lower endof the string to entrap the contents thereof, therein.

2. A well tester comprising a tubular string adapted to be lowered intoa well to be tested containing drilling fluid, a testing tool on thelower end of the string embodying relatively movable parts having aninflow conduit communicating with the interior of the string. meansadapted to be compressed by relative movement of said parts for forminga seal with the walls of the well bore to exclude drilling' fluid fromthe formation to be tested, valve means within the tool above thesealing means for controlling said conduit and normally closing the sameto exclude the drilling fluid from the string while the tool is beinglowered. said valve means being arranged to be opened upon such relativemovement to 'permit the entrance of a sample from the formation into thestring and means for closing said valve means to entrap said sample uponrelative movement of said parts in another direction.

3. A testing tool, shaped to be lowered into a well and having a conduittherethrough and comprising relatively movable parts, means, containinga liquid, for forming a seal with the walls of the well bore andarranged to be compressed into such sealing relation by relativemovement of said parts in onedlrection, valve means normally closingsaid conduit and arranged to be actuated by pressure of said liquid,upon such. relative movement, into position to open the conduit andmeans effective to close the valve means'when said parts arerelatively-moved in the other direction.

4. A testing' tool having an inflow conduit therethrough and shaped tobe lowered into a well and' comprising relatively movable parts. meansnormally locking said parts against rela-v tive movement, means forforminga' seal with the walls of the well bore and arranged to be com-1pressed into said sealing relation upon such relative movement, meansfor releasing said lockingy meansto permit such relative movement, valvemeans normally closing said conduit and` ar-y 20 ranged to be actuated,upon such relative movement, by the pressure of a liquid containedin thetool into position to open said conduit to permit the flow of a samplethrough said conduit and means for actuating the valve` means to 35closed position upon relative movement of said parts in anotherdirection.

5. A device of the character described comprising a tubular string ofpipe shaped to be lowered into a well and having relatively movableparts,

means normally closing the passageway through the string to permit thestring to be lowered into the well empty sealing mea-ns on the stringcontaining achamber filled with fluid and adapted to form a seal betweenthe string and the Walls of the well bore, said relatively movable partsbeing effective, when relatively moved in one direction to applycompression to the liquid in said chamber to cause the expansion of thesealing means into said sealing relation with the walls of the well.

15 and a liow line forming said passageway and extending from below saidpacker to the well surface having a port therein opening into the wellshaft, means to close the bore of said line, means to close the port insaid line and communicate the zone of the bore of said line at oppositesides 'of said last-named means, and resilient means to resist actuationof said last-named means.

7. In a device of the character described adapted for use in a well, aflow line comprising relatively telescopic upper and lower portions,saldi upper portion having a bore, means to close said bore to thepassage of pressure fluid therethrough in either direction, said upperportion having ports communicating with the well below said closuremeans, and means for closing the ports and opening the bore of said flowline to the passage of pressure fluid upwardly therethrough actuated bytelescoping said upper and lower'portions.

8. In a device of the character described, a ported flow line comprisingan upper tubing section and a lower tubing section telescopicallyconnected, a valve closing the bore of the upper portion to pressuretherebelow, and a valve structure connected in said flow line andactuated by v iiow of uid from end to end thereof when extended. meansfor conducting fluid from the interior to the exterior thereof whenextended, and means for controlling relative movement between saidmembers longitudinally. f

10. In a device for use in a well shaft, a flow line comprising a pairof telescoping sections, a packer carried by said flow line to seal thelatter with the well shaft, means to communicate the flow line above thepacker with the zone of lthe well shaft above the packer, and meansoperable by telescopic movement of said sections to close off saidlast-named means of communication and open the flow line forcommunication of the area of the well shaft below said packer with theWell surface. i

11. In a device for use in a well shaft, a ow line comprising a pair oftelescoping sections, a packer carried by said flow line, means ofcommunication, comprising a port in one of said sections, between saidflow line and the area. of the well shaft above said packer, means toprevent the ow of fluid through said ow line from end to end thereof,and means to close said means of communication and open said flow lineto communication from end to end thereof through said port.

12. In a device of the character described, a pair of tubular members,means for connecting said members together for limited relative longitudinal movement, and a. single valve associated with said members tocontrolse1ective1y, communication of the lowermost of said members withthe well shaft above the packer and with the bore of the upper member.

13. In a well testing device for usein a well shaft, a, pair oftelescopically connected tubular members, one of said members forming ahead for a packer and having a lateral port therein communicating thebore of the lowermost tubulanmember below the packer with the well shaftabove the packer through said head, and a single valve member movable insaid head and actuated by telescopic contraction of said tubular membersto close said communication with the well shaft and open communicationbetween said tubular members through said head.

OLLIN W. WILLIAMS. LUTHER E. BROWN.

